8
REVIEW
Renault Megane RS 250 v Volkswagen Scirocco R 2012 Comparison
Step up! Step up for the hot hatch grudge matchRenault Megane RS 250 vs Volkswagen Scirocco R
Broadford race track
Renault Megane RS 250 Cup Trophee
What we liked
>> Taut chassis
>> Communicate steering
>> Powerful brakes
>> Communicate steering
>> Powerful brakes
No so much
>> Rearward vision>> Unforgiving ride quality
>> No twin-clutch version
Volkswagen Scirocco R
What we liked
>> Overall refinement?
>> Effective power delivery?
>> Standard features
>> Standard features
No so much
>> Dull instrument cluster
>> Brakes could use more bite?
>> Somewhat detached driving experience
>> Brakes could use more bite?
>> Somewhat detached driving experience
France versus Germany, crepes vs sauerkraut, lacy lingerie vs lederhosen, Renault vs Volkswagen...
As you may gather from our opening line, we've been aching to conduct this test for months. We’ll leave the culinary and saucy fashion reviews for another time, as right now our focus is two of the hottest Euro hatches going around: Volkswagen Scirocco R and Renault Megane RS 250.
Our mission was to determine the better car and given performance is crucial in this category, a large part of this test was undertaken at a race track.
But we're also rating these hi-po hatchbacks on other aspects too, like how they smell, whether they make us look cool and how many interesting noises they make...
THE NEW POWER GENERATION
In the red corner is the Megane RS 250, a vehicular bouillabaisse of stiff suspension, raw engine power and sporty machismo. With 184kW and 340Nm, it has enough grunt to smoke the front hoops without even trying.
In the blue corner is the Scirocco R, its Italian-sounding name an apt introduction to its refined character. It has slightly more power and a smidge less torque than its rival, delivering a 188kW/330Nm kick.
We're talking about two of the most desirable turbocharged hotties on the block; cars on the cusp of replacing the (ridiculed but undeniably exciting) boy racer aura pioneered by the likes of Subaru’s WRX and Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evo.
They’re both sleek, aggressively-styled coupes that take the hot-hatch design ethos and add more attitude. Both are powered by 2.0-litre turbocharged and intercooled engines, both are front-wheel drive and both handle very nicely, as we discovered...
CRUISING FOR A BRUISING
It’s fair to say the Scirocco R was the preferred transport during the extended (and at times mind-numbingly frustrating) journey to the race circuit. The seats have softer cushioning and the suspension is adjustable between comfort, normal and sport, plus the self-shifting six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) simplifies the A to B gambit.
In fact, the VW is more civilised throughout, in terms of powertrain, ride quality and interior finish. It’s also easier to get in and out of, though that's not to say the Renault is cheap-looking and cramped. The Megane RS 250 features cow-hide covered Recaro sports seats, stylish audio controls and flourishes of carbon-fibre, which convey a stronger message of performance than the German.
After sitting in slow-moving traffic for what seemed like hours (it was probably only 15 minutes) we finally hit the freeway and with both models featuring satellite navigation and cruise control, covering longer distances and finding remote race tracks proved a doddle.
But it should be said the Renault's 'joystick' input sat nav system is fiddly compared to the VW's intuitive touchscreen setup. First points to the Scirocco then.
RACE FACE
After devouring three packets of spearmint Mentos and yelling abuse at one (possibly five) seemingly blind motorists, we arrived at the race track. Our first test: straight line speed. After several 0-100km/h runs and three slightly aromatic clutches, the Scirocco R drew first blood (just!) in the performance stakes, beating the Frenchie each and every time by three tenths of a second.
The standing starts see both cars spin their wheels and smoke their tyres as excess torque struggles to escape the front axles. The Megane RS 250 managed mid six second runs, the Scirocco R hitting six seconds flat.
Lapping the relatively tight and twisty 2.1km Broadford (Victoria) circuit, it became clear that these cars are also very closely matched in other areas. Rolling acceleration established no clear winner; on the front and back straights neither car pulled away with any distinction.
However it's through the corners that the differences between the red and blue cars began to emerge. In regard to the subjective concept of driver involvement, the Renault fights back with a unanimous decision. The VW feels as though you’re sitting on it, whereas the RS 250 well and truly ensconces the driver thanks to Recaro bucket seats and a clearer connection between steering wheel and front wheels.
Furthermore the Renault has a sportier interior that makes you feel fast -- we're talking yellow tacho, yellow steering wheel stitching with straight-ahead markings, and a smattering of Renault Sport (RS) emblems.
Both cars feature alloy pedals for your feet to dance over and the Scirocco also gets a flat bottom steering wheel whose coolness is effectively eradicated by an instrument display that screams "snooze fest".
RAW VERSUS REFINED
The Renault barks and blats like a crook dog when slapping through gears under full throttle, while the VW emits a muted burble between shifts. This theme is paralleled in the way they drive; the Renault delivers a thrilling and utterly raw experience compared to the refined, dare I say over-sanitised feel of the Volkswagen.
The Renault is a driver's car through and through. It offers better steering feedback than its rival, is more compelling to drive and has much better stoppers thanks to Brembo calipers at the front end.
Renault's RS 250 exhibits less body roll through corners than the Volksy too, even when the latter’s suspension is flicked over to 'sport' mode.
But just when you decide the German car is down for the count, I discovered that it’s easier to lap faster in the Scirocco. While it’s not difficult to keep pace when following the Renault, it’s a different story when chasing the VW.
While the Renault carves its way through corners with the finesse of a ballroom dancer, the VW tends to sucker-punch its way around the track, tyres squealing like billy-o most of the time. But where the German makes gains on its opponent is the way in which it manages to get its power down earlier mid corner.
The driver has to be more judicious when winding on the power in the Renault or risk wheelspin and losing traction and precious tenths of seconds.
On Broadford's short and twisting track there are very few sweeping corners that allow for sustained, wide-open throttle inputs, and we imagine on a more flowing, higher-speed track like Phillip Island or Eastern Creek the Renault would be quicker.
But right here, right now, the Volkswagen is king.
While the Volkswagen screeches like a banshee as it half slides, half grapples it way through turns, it doesn't appear to lose as much corner speed despite the histrionics. Granted, the Renault tips into corners more crisply but is always a car length or two further behind when exiting the turn.
The Renault's Brembo brakes help reel in the Volkswagen at the end of Broadford's two straights, but in the end the Scirocco R is always ahead.
DONE AND DUSTED?
It took scorched clutches, overheated brakes, boiled power steering fluid, two angry magpies and scrubbed tyres to find out which car smelled the worst, and that award goes to Renault. And though we expected the Renault to trounce the Volkswagen in the performance stakes, it just didn’t happen.
Maybe the Volkswagen's tricky XDL front diff helped it edge ahead on the track by neutralising understeer, or perhaps the Renault has seen a harder life? Whatever the case, it was a very close race in the end but just like the 1982 World Cup soccer semi-final, Germany beats France...
Volkswagen's pithy hot hatch is also the better vehicle off the track. If I had to choose one of them to live with everyday, driving to and from work, loading gear and bodies, I’d pick the Volkswagen. It's got a smoother ride, a self-shifting ’box (a manual is available for purists) and you probably won't be stung quite as painfully by resale value come trade-in time a few years down the track.
There’s no doubt the Megane RS 250 is the more satisfying vehicle to drive fast. It's a visceral beast and more involving for the driver. Indeed, the fast Frenchie makes your heart beat faster as you nail each corner with tighter steering and more throttle, while the pragmatic German is less exciting in its approach. Though quicker, the Scirocco R is not quite as much fun to drive at the limit.
One says Guten Tag, the other says bonsoir, and both have distinct character and appeal. Amidst (unfair) claims of boring efficiency, the Volkswagen outclassed its opponent with a shrewd approach to performance motoring. Well played Volksie, well played...
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Written byFeann Torr
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